Overview

• Mike Hesson said he never asked Babar Azam to keep wickets and confirmed any return would be in his established opening role alongside Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman.
• The coach dismissed reports of a mandatory 150 strike-rate requirement for T20I selection, stating no such performance threshold exists.
• Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi were omitted from the Bangladesh tour squad but remain part of the preparatory camp in Karachi.
• Hesson identified Pakistan’s batting as the primary shortfall in T20 cricket and outlined work on improving scoring rates to meet modern demands.
• He is collaborating with selectors to build a younger, multi-role T20 side capable of flexible batting positions and specialist contributions ahead of the July 20 series in Mirpur.